Berkeley Reverses Itself On Calling Marines "Intruders"

The city council of Berkeley, California reversed on Wednesday a decision to tell U.S. Marine Corps recruiters they were unwelcome in the ultra-liberal college town.

The decision came early on Wednesday, after council members listened to four hours of testimony from anti-war and pro-military protesters, many of whom had camped outside City Hall since Monday night.

The council withdrew plans to send letters to Marine headquarters and its local office stating that recruiters would be considered "uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

[...]

"We deeply respect and support the men and women in our armed forces. However, we strongly oppose the war and the continued recruitment of our young people into this war," the statement read.

[...]

About 2,000 people demonstrated on Tuesday while police in riot gear stood on hand to keep order, the city's largest protest since 1991, police said. Four demonstrators were arrested in minor altercations.

[...]

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, a retired U.S. Army Captain, said that he did not feel the events, which generated national headlines, had embarrassed the city.

"I'm very proud of what we've done, because it's raised the issue," Bates said.

[Kavanagh] lived in Oakland for a time and was unable to "technically comply" with Berkeley's residency requirement, officials said Tuesday.

Kavanagh, 49, is still facing criminal charges that he served on the panel illegally because he lived in Oakland.

[...]

Kavanagh was arrested Sept. 21 and charged with three felony counts of voter fraud, one count of perjury and one count of grand theft for accepting a monthly stipend and health insurance benefits while serving on the rent board.

In October, Alameda County prosecutors charged Kavanagh with an additional count of voter fraud for allegedly casting a ballot in a Berkeley election when he didn't live in the city .

Kavanagh, a schoolteacher, Green Party member and longtime tenants' rights activist, was elected to the rent board in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.

A Green Party school teacher, charged with three counts of voter fraud, perjury and grand theft? Why, the Lefties should be all over this, crying "outrage," "cheater," "fraud!" But the Left will be deafeningly silent. Voter fraud - according to the Left - is only committed by Republicans or Conservatives. Green Party - Democrats...there's no discernable difference between the two.

Oh, those Law and Order Liberals - there's nothing like 'em, is there? So honest, so trustworthy, so ethical. The kind of people you want teaching your children - yes?